Two-Lane Blacktop (The Criterion Collection)
by Monte Hellman
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DVD Cover Information
Actor: David Drake, Dennis Wilson, James Taylor, Laurie Bird, Warren OatesDirector: Monte Hellman
Brand: Image Entertainment
Writer: Rudy Wurlitzer
Cinematographer: Gregory Sandor
Cinematographer: Jack Deerson
Producer: Gary Kurtz
Producer: Michael Laughlin
Writer: Floyd Mutrux
Writer: Will Corry
DVD: Region Code 1
Audio: English (Unknown), Dolby Digital 5.1; English (Original Language), Dolby Digital 5.1
Format: Color, DVD, NTSC, Widescreen
Picture Format: 2.35:1
Running Time: 102 minutes
DVD Release Date: 2007-12-11
Audience Rating: R (Restricted)
Studio: Criterion Collection
Movie Reviews of Two-Lane Blacktop (The Criterion Collection)
Movie Review: "Make it three yards..."
Summary: 5 Stars
In anticipation of its release later that year, Esquire magazine ran a substantial piece on Two-Lane Blacktop and boldly proclaimed it to be the best film of the year. Despite high praise from such a prestigious periodical, the studio refused to promote the film and it was barely released theatrically. Perhaps the studio felt that the minimalist plot and characterization, coupled with the existential vibe, wouldn't appeal to a mainstream audience. However, over the years, Two-Lane Blacktop developed a small, but loyal following among car enthusiasts who fetishized the 1955 Chevy and 1970 Pontiac GTO featured so prominently that they deserve top billing alongside the lead actors. The film also found an audience with people who dug other nihilistic road movies like Easy Rider (35th Anniversary Deluxe Edition) and Vanishing Point.
Director Monte Hellman's camerawork is very minimalist, almost documentary-like in how matter-of-factly it depicts the race and the places and people that they encounter along the way. With all of the car-speak and loving shots of fast, muscle cars, Two-Lane Blacktop is a car lover's dream. It has also become a nostalgia piece as they just don't make cars like the ones in this film anymore. This film also immerses us in the car-racing culture of its day like no other film then or since.
Fans of the Anchor Bay edition will definitely want to hold onto that copy, especially if you're lucky enough to own the limited edition collectors' tin, as none of the extras are included on this new one.
The first disc features an audio commentary by the film's director Monte Hellman and joining him is filmmaker Allison Anders. He talks about how he got his start as a filmmaker, working for Roger Corman and American International Pictures. Anders keeps things moving by asking Hellman a lot of questions about making the film.
There is another commentary by the film's screenwriter Rudy Wurlitzer and film professor David Meyer. They kick things off by defining the road movie and what it's all about. Wurlitzer talks about the romanticism of Jack Kerouac's On the Road: The Original Scroll and the evolution to the existentialism of Two-Lane Blacktop. This is a very philosophical track as he and Meyer talk about the film's themes and analyze their meaning.
"On the Road Again" features Hellman and some of his film students revisiting some of the locations in the film. Along the way, he talks about how he got involved in the film, how Rudy Wurlitzer came on board, and casting the lead actors. Hellman also talks about the troubles he had getting a studio interested and how Universal Pictures backed it. He talks about the style and intentions.
"Make It Three Yards" is a conversation between Hellman and James Taylor done in 2007. Taylor recounts his impressions making the film, including a few hair-raising mechanical mishaps with the cars.
"Somewhere Near Salinas" is a conversation with Kris Kristofferson who let "Me and Bobby McGee" be in the film. He talks about how he contemplated playing the role of the Mechanic but Hellman felt that he was too old.
"Sure Did Talk to You" features production manager Walter Coblenz and producer Michael S. Laughlin talking about the making of the film from their point-of-view. They talk about how Hellman let the actors only read the pages of the script for that day in order to allow for a more spontaneous reaction.
"Those Satisfactions are Permanent" allows one to see screen-test outtake footage of Laurie Bird and James Taylor. They don't actually read from the script but are interviewed instead.
"Color Me Gone" is a collection of behind-the-scenes stills.
"Performance and Image" features car enthusiast Walt Bailey reconstructing a '55 Chevy and offers his account via text and photographs. Also, then and now photos of locations used in the film are displayed.
Finally, there is a theatrical trailer.
Also accompanying the DVD is a copy of Wurlitzer's screenplay and extensive liner notes including tributes by Tom Waits and Richard Linklater and a fantastic Making Of article from Rolling Stone magazine.
Summary of Two-Lane Blacktop (The Criterion Collection)
Drag racing east from L.A. in a souped-up f55 Chevy are the wayward Driver and Mechanic (singer/songwriter James Taylor and the Beach Boysf Dennis Wilson, in their only acting roles), accompanied by a tagalong Girl (Laurie Bird). Along the way, they meet Warren Oatesfs Pontiac GTO-driving wanderer and challenge him to a cross-country race?the prize: their carsf pink slips. Yet no summary can do justice to the existential punch of Two-Lane Blacktop. Maverick director Monte Hellmanfs stripped-down narrative, gorgeous widescreen compositions, and sophisticated look at American male obsession make this one of the artistic high points of 1970s cinema, and possibly the greatest road movie ever made.Similar DVD Movies
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